Under clear skies thousands of people, young and old, are gathering to remember those soldiers that lost their lives during the battle of Gallipoli.

Today marks 99 years of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing at Gallipoli and 100 years since the start of the First World War.

Tauranga RSA ANZAC service. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The services throughout New Zealand, including the Bay of Plenty, mark the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, named ANZACs, at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, where 18,000 New Zealanders and 60,000 Australians lost their lives.

More than 1500 people attended the Tauranga RSA service with Maritime Component Commander Commodore John Campbell addressing the crowd on the importance and heritage surrounding the annual day of remembrance.

Prayers were led by Reverend John Hebenton and parade commander was Max Blackburn.

Tauranga RSA president Dick Frew says today is a very special day for everyone involved and is pleased with the strong turnout once again.

He also pays special mention to the 'magnificent” turnout of younger generations, something which continues to gain popularity.

'It just shows the Anzac spirit isn't waning. It is very special indeed,” says Dick.

Commodore John Campbell agrees saying even though this is a day of duty it is heart-warming to see children and grandchildren making the early morning effort.

'For every one of us it's got a separate meaning. A lot of us know people that have died on operation even in the last 10 years and we wish that didn't happen,” says John.

'About 10 to 15 years ago I was an RSA in Auckland with my daughter and I asked one of the old diggers ‘why were kids starting to come back to Anzac?' He turned round to me and said ‘we never told our children what happened over there but we tell our grandchildren'.

'It's the grandchildren that are finding out and beginning to open up.”

And John believes it is fantastic people are continuing to commemorate the day throughout the country for all the right reasons.

'We have got to remember where we come from and the people that have come before us.”

In Mount Maunganui more than 3500 people attended the service at the cenotaph on Marine Parade lead Mount RSA president Carol Cook and the commands of parade commander Sergeant Mike Halliday.

Up the road in Katikati more than 100 people gathered at the town's new Memorial Square at dawn this morning to remember those who served in the world wars.

Led by Katikati RSA president Peter Sparrow, the crowd honoured those lost and also those who survived battle at the town's Anzac Day dawn service, with St Peter's Anglican church Reverend Brendan Gibbs speaking and making prayer.

The square's flag was dropped in recognition of the war efforts, with Bay of Plenty Pipes and Drums pipe major Richard Addison playing the bagpipes, and Dennis Wilks sounding the bugle.

The dawn parade went ahead under fine skies at the Memorial Square, as a one-off tribute to the site's recent opening.

Memorial Square has been transformed into a centrepiece for the Katikati township and as a memorial to world war soldiers.

With people now returning to Katikati RSA for breakfast, at 10.15am a wreath-laying will be held at Uretara Domain, followed by a march at 10.30am up Main St to the Katikati War Memorial Hall, where a civic service will happen at 11am.

Today services are being held across the Bay including at Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Te Puke and Katikati honouring all servicemen and women involved. Shops will be closed until 1pm today.

For a full list of the services and road closures click here.

People attending the Mount Maunganui dawn service. Photo: Ross Brown.

Tauranga RSA service


Photos: Tracy Hardy.









Mount Maunganui service



Photos: Rosalie Crawford.




Katikati service


Photos: Merle Foster.




Tauranga Memorial Park service


Photos: Tracy Hardy.